Framing elements



Oct. 4-, 1949.

KAUTZ FRAMING ELEMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 15. 1941Oct. 4, 1949. KAUTZ Re. 23,153

FRAMING ELEMENTS Original Filed Jan. 15, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2v ReissuedOct. 4, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Original No. 2,412,618, datedDecember 17, 1946,

Serial No. 374,568, January 15, 1941. Application for reissue December16, 1947, Serial No.

15 Glaims.

The invention relates to the production of a material suitable for usein screens, framing and frame structures, enclosures, partitions, bins,panels and guard in various structures, and particularly with relationto framing elements for meshed materials of various kinds. Thus, myinvention is applicable to production of screens in a novel form,suitable for use as screens in screening or separating and classifyingmaterial, or for screens adapted to function to enclose small birds,animals or the like, or for fencing.

The invention particularly aims to present such structure which may alsobe used to good advantage in the framing of building structures so thatunits of my invention may be set up without the use of studdingnecessarily, in some situations, and if not used as an open meshpartition, they serve for the application of plaster, stucco, and thelike, to complete a wall, either as a partition or as an externalbearing wall. It is a particular aim of the invention to presentstructural material adapted to be used as an expanded metal support forplaster and the like, or without the application of such plastic, toserve as fencing or as a separating screen for various purposes.

Another important aim of the invention is to present a structure elementof this kind which is especially adapted to use in the construction ofbuildings, either commercial or domestic, "where shelving is to be putin place, so that the expanded metal or corresponding unit may be builtinto a wall or partitioning screen, and at the same time supply shelfsupport. Another important aim of the invention is to present astructure element adapted to use in producing steel reinforced concreteslabs or the like, with novel advantages. A further additional purposeof the invention is to present a unit of material of this kind adaptedto use as a combined mold, concrete slab or wal1 reinforcement, andpermanent edge facing for finished work whereby it is protected fromchipping, and whereby also if desired, two or more units formed with myinvention. may be connected together, if desired, by fastenings engagedbetween the mold or edge facing elements.

While I am aware that wire screens of corresponding material have beenheretofore framed by panel-like structural steel members and the like,there has heretofore been difiiculty in effecting a satisfactory unionor securement of the screen material to the metal framing, especially bywelding, on account of the difference in heat terial, and it is animportant aim of my invention to present ,a manner of construction whichwill enable the production of screen or expanded metal structuralmembers having panel form or other edging or stiffening of heavystructural angle steel devices, or their equivalents attaining manynovel advantages over prior structure or material, and having greatstrength and durab' "ty, as Well as simplifying steps required inmanufacture.

It has also been an aim to attain these improve-merits While at the sametime reducing the cost of such materials. A further aim is to imeconstruction of the units to the end hey may be very uickly assembledwith minimum of experience required on the part elf workmen, applying.01" erecting the material.

It is an important aim of the invention to present structural materialof this kind which will afford a maximum strength and rigidity in walls,fences, partitions, and otherwise, incident to its use.

diffusion of the screen material and frame ma- An object of theinvention incident to production of this material is to enable the weldto be in ole in such manner that the welded material 'i not be exposedsaliently, and therefore, in many situations, will involve a minimumrequirent of cleaning, and also will be liable in a minimum degree tocorrosion. A. further aim is to present a novel structural unit adaptedto be assembled in juxtaposition with other like units, to enable thdrawing of adjacent units in a novel Way to form a complete structure ofhigh strength and good appearance.

A further important aim of the invention is to present a structural unitof this kind which will be extremely light in weight, yet without sacrificing essential strength for the uses contemplated. It is .an importantaim of the invention to present a novel means for attaching screenmaterial to a frame piece or edging, whereby the welding of the screenmaterial or expanded metal to such framing piece may be effected withoutweakening the; screen at the junction with the weld, without burningthescreen material, and in such manner that a highly secure attachment orthe screen material is efiected.

Additional objects, advantages and features of the invention reside inthe construction, arrangement and combination of parts involved in theembodiment of the invention, as will be more readily understood from thefollowing description and accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is afragmentary view of a structural element adapted to many and varioususes, as

3 heretofore set forth, and as may be additionally understood from thedescription thereof and its adaptability to various uses.

Figure 2 is a cross section thereof.

Figure 3 is a similar cross section, showing a modification of thearrangement of the edge member of the unit with respect to the screenmaterial.

Figure 4 is a similar fragmentary section showing a further arrangementof the screen material with respect to the edging member.

Figure 5 is a further modification of the relation of the screen to theedge member, the foregoin five views illustrating the use of simpleangle structural iron or steel members.

Figures 6 and 7 are horizontal cross sections of modificationsillustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one manner ofproducing the article illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing another manner offorming the stiffening member to receive the screen material to producean article corresponding to that shown in Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a similar view showing another manner of forming thestiffening stock to receive the screen for producing the last namedarticle.

Figures 11, 12 and 13 are fragmentary perspective views showing furthermodifications for producing such article.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further modification ofform of stiffening member for receiving the screen to produce theartiole illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 15 is a similar view of a further modification of the stifieningmember for producing the article of Figure 2.

Figures 16 and 17 are perspective views to illustrate the various usesof the structural elements of Figures 2 and 3 in a screen or similarpartition structures.

There is illustrated in Figure 1 a portion of a unit structural membersuitable for various uses, F

and which may represent one corner of a rectangular frame, consisting ofsuitable angles ID, to which there is attached at the junction of theflanges of the angles a body of open-mesh material I I, which may bewoven wire, expanded metal, as will be understood hereafter. In thisparticular instance, channel portions of the angles are disposed at theouter sides of the frame, and the screen material is engaged with theangles or solid members at the outer sides of the angles formed by, thejunction of the two flanges l2 of the angles, and the screen materialbeing extended in a plane which approximately bisects the angles at thejunction of the flanges l2.

The angle ['0 may be formed in various ways, being adapted to beassembled from two flat strips or ribbons of materials brought togetherat the proper angle as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and following, where itmay be a stock L-angle rolled or shaped in one piece and, pierced, cut,or otherwise formed at the angle therein to receive the open-meshmaterial, as will be described more in detail hereafter. In producingthe article of Figures 1 and 2, the respective strips intended to formthe flanges [2, are brought into position as shown in Figure 2, afterinsertion of an edge portion of the screen material ll therebetween, sothat a small portion of the edge of the screen projects inwardly of theangle at the junction of the two flanges, after which a weld convexangle formed by the two flanges.

I3 is formed in accordance with any usual prac-' tices, but particularlyincluding the deposit of metal Within the angle immediately at thejunction of the two flanges, in such manner that the molten metalsurrounds the end portions of the wire of the screen, or the edgeportion of the screen which is inserted and projected inward- 1y throughthe angle. In this way, the heat is absorbed from the weld body by theflanges I2 and dissipated by these, so that a minimum amount of heat istransmitted or accumulated in the extreme edge portion of the open-meshmaterial II.

By the assembling method described, using two separate strips to formthe flanges 12, the welding of the open-mesh material effects also thesecurement of the two flanges together, so that a complete angle isproduced and the advantages utilized in the stiffening of the unitproduced. In Figure 3, the angle It may be produced of two straps ofmetal struck together at the proper angle as illustrated, while the bodyof the screen extends inwardly from the angle, but with an edge portionwhich projects outwardly at the Using strap material which has beentrimmed with a flat edge substantially at right angles to the majorplane of the strap, a recess is formed between the two edges of theflanges, into which the weld material It may be introduced,substantially as it was deposited in the device of Figure 2, surroundingthe projected edge portion of the screen material, and the heat of theweld being transmitted to the flanges and dissipated thereby, with thesame benefit in preserving delicate screen material from burning orexcessive damage by heating of the weld. Utilizing a unit such as shownin Figure 2, it will readily be appreciated that a frame made up asdescribed with angles ill meeting at the corners, as shown in Figure 1,may be set upon a planiform surface, and filled with a Portland cementconcrete aggregate of suitable kind, so that the concrete will penetratethrough the open mesh material to the supporting surfaces, where it willspread and be confined by the angles is, and the concrete may beintroduced until its top surface lies flush with the upper edges of theangles 1 9, as will be appreciated. The slabs cast in this manner willthus be reinforced by the open mesh material, while its edge portionsare protected against chipping by the edge portions of the flanges It.

The units formed as in Figure 1, and other modifications to be indicatedherein may also be set up on edge and connected to other elements to besupported as a fence or other enclosure.

In Figure 4, the manner of attaching the screen with relation to theflanges of an angle is illustrated, screen material H being laid againstthe inner side of one of the flanges with its first portions projectedoutwardly past the abutting edge of the opposite flange, while a weld I5is built up at one side of the angle around the proiected edge portionof the screen material I I.

In Figure the screen material is shown in the same plane with respect tothe angle, as in Figure 4, but instead of being laid against the innerside of the bottom flange l2-A, and extended away from the angle besidethat flange, the'screen material is located outwardly of the angle, withits edge portion inserted inwardly between the flange l2 and the flangel2-A, the weld It being then built up at the inner side of the angle. Inthese last described two forms, the angle differs from the arrangementof Figures 2' and 3 in that in Figures 2 and 3 the flanges of the anglesextend a common distance from the vertex of the angles, while in Figures4 and 5, the upper flange I2 shown is butted against the inner side ofthe flange I2A, or at least against the screen material inserted betweenthe two. The beneficial result in the transmission or conduction of heatfrom the weld to the flanges, and its rapid dissipation, are gained inthe last described forms of the article in the same manner as in thefirst two.

In Figures 6 and '7, structures are shown somewhat similar to that shownin Figures 1 and 2, and comprise identical metal strips 8 and 9,angularly disposed, bisected by the end portion of the mesh material orthe like and welded at the root. The strip 8 is placed with the wideside thereof in parallel relation to the plane of the mesh material, inorder to obtain substantially flush faced panels, in the same manner asflange I2A in Figures 4 and 5, while the strip 9 is disposed at an acuteangle to that strip 8 and diagonally in relation to the mesh instead ofhaving a right angular disposition as shown by flange l2 in Figures 4and 5. The width of the strips 8 and 9 may be varied in the manner so asto have the extreme longitudinal edges of said strips disposed in acommon line lying at right angles to the web, or, the extreme edge ofone strip may be dis posed short from such line, as, for instance, saidedge of strip 9 in Figures 6 and '7.

In Figure 8 there is shown a manner of forming one of the strips to beassembled from an angle stiffening member, in which the edge portion ofone strip which is to be butted against the side of the other strip isnotched at intervals corresponding to the spacing of the intersection ofwires or other elements in the open. mesh material, the material I Ibeing trimmed on the line slightly outward of the junction of the wires.After the trimming of the mesh material, its edge portion consisting ofthe intersections of the wires, is laid upon the inner side of theflange strip 25, while the notched flange member 24 is set down againstthe other flange and so that the respective wire intersections of thematerial. H are located within the notches. The weld material is thenapplied within the angle, substantially as at IS, in Figure 5, securingthe two pieces 2.4 and 25 together, and securing the material II to theassembled angle.

In Figure 9, both strips 26 are notched in the manner shown in Figure 8,and. instead of one of the strips being butted against the side of theother, they are both disposed at an angle tothe plane of the material Hand the weld is then formed substantially as shown in Figure 2.

In Figure 10, each flange 29 of the stiffening member or angle is shownas having extreme edge portions pressed alternately in oppositedirections, so that when brought together in proper angular relationswith the formed edges adjacent each other and with opposed salients ofthe formed edges in abutment, as at 39, slots 3| are formed between theoppositely pressed portions which are not in contact, and this permits.the insertion of the intersections of the screen material If intorespective slots, so that welding material may be formed at the innerside of the angle, substantially as shown in Figure 2', or otherwiseaccording to the relation, of the screen material II to the formedangle.

In Figure 11, it is shown how the strip members 32. may be formed foraccommodation of a heavy wire mesh. In this construction the strips 32are angularly arranged and spaced apart and small metal slugs 34 areplaced between the strips and welded. Only occasional slugs will berequired and these spaced apart as at 33, to permit entrance of the wiremesh, substantially in the relation shown in Figure 2, although thescreen may be disposed in different planes with respect to the angle, aswill be understood.

In Figure 12, the stiffening member may-be formed of a serpentine ortransversely corrugated strip 34 set at the proper angle to a straightstrip Me, so that the salients of the corrugations abut said opposedstraight strip. The corrugations of the strip may occur throughout theirlength or at intervals, as desired.

In Figure '13, there is shown the manner of forming the stiffeningmember in one piece, this consisting of strip material having oppositeedge portions bent on a longitudinal medial line of the piece so as todispose the edge portions at right angles to each other, the junctionmaterial of the strip at its central part being struck out at intervalsto form opposed tongues 36 sufficiently separated to form openingsthrough the stiffening member at the angle, and to receive wireintersections between the tongues 36. Welds are applied at the innerside of the piece around the wire intersections, so that the latter arejoined to the angle piece 35 thus formed, and said tongues may serve asuseful means to increase the mass of the material at edges of saidopenings wherein the welding heat can be more readily absorbed, combinedwith infiltration of the welds between such opposed tongues and whichoffers advantages in the use of thinner material usually intended insuch cases.

In Figure 14, a lower flange strip 31 is shown, having positionedthereon, in spaced relation, metal slugs 39, and an upper strip 38 isthen set upon the slug 39, at right angles to the strip 31 and theslugs. The screen material I l is laid with its edge portionintersections upon the flange strip 3'1. and set between the spacedslugs. The weld material is then applied at the inner side of the angleto join the two strips and the screen material, forming an anglecorresponding to that shown in Figure 5.

In Figure 15, specially formed strip material is utilized to produce theangle stiffness, in this case each strip being formed with any suitablenumber of alternated offset flat portions 49', and inwardly curvedsections 4|, so that when two strips are brought together with theinwardly curved portions opposed to each other, the latter may contact,and form elongated slots 42 between the oppositely disposed flatportions 4%. In these slots the wire intersections of the screenmaterial H may be respectively inserted and secured as before indicated.

In Figures 16 and. 1'7, combinations of frame structures are shown,supporting separate screen sections l l and including, at top andbottom, horizontal edge members 55 and 56 which are formed in accordancewith the structures of Figures 3 and 2, respectively. In Figure 16,there also is shown a vertical Z-shaped intermediate reinforcement withedge portions or" separate screen sections H secured thereto at anupright medial portion and screen bodies oppositely extended therefrom.In Figure 17, there is shown an upright end reinforcement 58corresponding in structure to that of Figure. 3, and a central post 5'29of. hollow rectangular form is employed, composed of opposed and unitedframe members, of a type such as seen in Figure 2, with channel portionspresented towards each other. The downwardly directed flanges in the topand bottom edgings 55 and 56, as presented in Figures 16 and 17, willprevent adherence of excessive foreign matter or moisture in inside oroutside structures respectively, as will be readily appreciated.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the degree of angular relationof the two bisected strips may be subject to considerable variations fordesired purposes, and that it is a general advantage of weldedconstruction that great freedom of design is at disposal, and in thepresent case, the angular degree may be disposed in such way as toobtain rigidity of panels in a plane common with the mesh or may bealtered to reach better rigidity in a direction substantially at rightangles to the mesh material.

While I have shown my invention with great particularity, in its variousforms, it is to be understood that these are purely exemplary, and thatvarious other modifications may be made, as well as changes in thesizes, proportions and construction of parts, as well as combination ofequivalent elements, without departing from the spirit of the invention,as more particularly set forth in the claims following hereafter.

I claim:

1. A structural device comprising a mesh web and a frame supporttherefor having an elongated support member being substantially ofangular form in transverse section, said support member having elongatedsections extended longitudinall of the member with sides forming flangesin the member disposed substantially in divergent relation to each otherto define said angular form, said mesh web having a marginal portionengaged between said sections at the junction thereof and exposed at aside of said member lying away from the body of the mesh web, weldingmaterial employed to secure said marginal portion of the Web to saidsupport member, and said welding material being located substantially atsaid side of the member lying away from the body of the web.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said divergent sides of thesections are directed away from the body of said mesh web in a manner soas to have said side lying away from said body defined by the concaveside of the support.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said sections are separate piecesarranged in a manner so as to have respective longitudinal portionsthereof opposed and lying in lateral adjacency to each other with saidmarginal web portion engaged therebetween and said separate sections andweb portion secured together by said welding material.

4. The structure of claim lin which said sections are separate piecesarranged in a manner so as to have respective longitudinal edge portionsthereof opposed and lying in lateral adjacency to each other with saidmarginal web portion engaged therebetween and with the convex side ofsaid member defining said side lying away from the body of the web, andnarrow ends of said sections at said opposed longitudinal edge portionslying at an angle to each other so as to form an external recesslongitudinally of said member at said convex side with said weldingmaterial located substantially therein.

5. A structural member comprising a mesh web to be supported within aframe, having a frame element consisting of flat bar members with longitudinal edge portions disposed in angular relation to each other andreceiving an edge portion of said web therebetween so as to be exposedat a side of said frame element opposite the body of said mesh web, saidframe element including at least one bar member disposed at an angle tosaid mesh web, welding material at contacting portions of said barmembers and said mesh web, and said welding material being located atsaid side of said frame element opposite the body of said mesh web.

6. The structure of claim 5 in which said bar members are positioned atan angle and in a plane parallel to said mesh web respectively.

'7. A structural device comprising a mesh web and a frame supporttherefor having an elongated support member being substantially ofangular form in transverse section, said support member having separateelongated sections extended longitudinally of the member with sidesdisposed substantially in divergent relation to each other in order todefine said angular form, one elongated section having the transverseportion disposed substantially in the direction of the plane of saidmesh web and a respective marginal portion of the web being laid againstthe inner side of the section, another elongated section disposedsubstantially at an angle to said plane having a longitudinal edgeportion directed to said marginal web portion so that said web isengagedbetween the sections and exposed at a side of said support member lyingaway from the body of the web, and welding material employedsubstantially at said side lying away from said body to secure saidseparate sections and said marginal web portion to each other.

8. The structure of claim 7 in which said angular disposition of saidsection to the plane of the web is defined substantially by an acuteangle.

9. A structural element comprising a web member of flexible material anda frame element therefor comprising an elongated member havingrespective flange portions disposed at an angle to each other, said webmember being engaged between the flange portions substantially at thevertex of the frame element, and said frame element being formed with amultiplicity of longitudinally spaced openings substantially at saidvertex, said web member being a mesh structure with projecting portionsextended through said openings and the ends of the mesh elements exposedat a side of the frame element, and welding material engaged and unitedwith the frame element substantially at the vertex of the angle and saidprojecting portions of the mesh.

10. The structure of claim 9 in which the ends of said mesh elements areexposed at the concave side of the frame element with said weldingmaterial located substantially at a side of said frame element lyingaway from the body of said web.

11. A structural member comprising a mesh sheet or web, the elements ofwhich bounding openings in the mesh structure adjacent the edgesconstitute projecting elements spaced 1ongitudinally of the edges of themesh member, and a frame element therefor, consisting of an elongatedmember formed to dispose opposite longitudinal sides substantially inangular relation to each other, said frame element having a multiplicityof longitudinally spaced apertures substantially at the junction of saidsides and said apertures being flanked by extensions struck from thejunction material, respective projecting elements of said mesh memberbeing engaged in said apertures and between respective extensionsthereof and united therewith by welding material.

12. A structural member comprising a mesh web, the elements of whichbounding openings in the mesh structure adjacent the edges constituteprojecting elements spaced longitudinally of the mesh member, and aframe element therefor comprising elongated sections with sides formingflanges in said frame element arranged in substantially angular relationforming a root opening, slugs welded at spaced intervals within the rootopening, respective projecting portions of the mesh being engaged in theroot openings between the slugs and weld materials for securing the meshto said frame element, as and for the purposes described.

13. A structural element of the character described comprising a meshweb supported within a frame having a frame member of angular form intransverse section and embodying two lateral flanges disposed at anacute angle to each other, and said frame member being apertured at itsangle vertex and having end portions of said mesh web extendedtherethrough and oppositely exposed, and welding material engaged tounite said frame member with said web at points of contact, and saidframe member having one flange positioned in a plane parallel to saidmesh web, and the longitudinal extremities of said frame member lyingsubstantially in a common line extended at right angles from the planeof said mesh web.

14. A structural element of the character described comprising a meshweb supported within a frame having a frame member of angular form intransverse section and embodying two lateral flanges disposed at anangle to each other, and said frame member being apertured at its anglevertex and having end portions of said mesh web extended therethroughand oppositely exposed, and welding material engaged to unite said framemember with said web at points of contact, and said mesh web beingextended from the convex side of the frame member and located in a planeequally bisecting the angle of said flanges.

15. A structural member comprising a mesh sheet or web, the elements ofwhich bounding openings in the mesh structure adjacent the edgesconstitute projecting elements spaced longitudinally of the edges of themesh member, and a frame element therefor, consisting of two elongatedlateral members having sides forming flanges in the element arranged inangular relation to each other thereby defining a longitudinallydirected channel in the element at a side thereof, said members havingrespective longitudinal portions opposed at the angle vertex and spacedapart, at least one of said elongated members being deformed from astraight longitudinal line by a warpage in the material with sectionstherein inwardly and outwardly directed relative to each other so as toobtain said spacing between said opposed portions of the members and aclosure of said spacing at a location lying intermediately betweenprojecting elements of the mesh, said projecting elements of said meshengaging between said spaced apart portions and being exposed at a sideof said frame element lying away from the body of the web, and weldingmaterial employed to unite the mesh and said members, as and for thepurposes described.

FREDERICK KAUTZ.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date McClure a July 20, 1926Number

